Frank Myrland
Landon Donovan has been the face of American soccer for some eight years, taking charge on the pitch of a national squad that was on the rise after an abysmal history. The United States had qualified for the World Cup twice in a row after a 56-year absence from soccer’s top tournament, though with only limited success. Since Landon Donovan found a place in the first eleven, America have been involved in every World Cup tournament since, and have risen considerably in the FIFA rankings.
Donovan was born in California in 1982, and didn’t have to wait very long to carve out a reputation for himself playing soccer. At the U-17 World Championship held in 1999, Donovan helped the team to an impressive fourth place finish, collecting the Golden Ball as the tournament’s most outstanding player in the process. The striker’s performance caught the eye of professional clubs around the world, and after a series of considerable bids, Donovan accepted the offer of German club Bayer Leverkusen. In doing so, he became the youngest American footballer, at seventeen years of age, to sign with a foreign club.
Donovan’s first impressions of Germany were negative. Even though he had been touted as the next great soccer star in America, it wasn’t so easy to earn a place in the competitive line-up made up mostly of players who were more experienced and skilled than the youngster. The local culture, language, food and weather also didn’t agree with him and Donovan soon found himself longing to return to North America. Bayer Leverkusen respected his wishes and sent him to the San Jose Earthquake of the MLS in 2001, as part of a four-year loan.
The MLS was more agreeable for the youngster, and San Jose won the championship in the first year he arrived, and again only two years after. After winning his second championship in 2003, Donovan was recognised as the US Soccer Athlete of the Year, in part for his MVP performance in the final game against the Chicago Fire.
Impressed by his success in North America, Bayer Leverkusen called for him back. Donovan’s second taste of Europe was no better than his first, as he was given the opportunity to play in only seven games, mostly as a substitute. With his rising star being brought rapidly to the earth again, Donovan requested and was granted the chance to leave the German Club. He turned down a respectable offer from Premier League side Portsmouth so that he could return once again to the home comforts of the MLS.
As San Jose had traded away his rights, the striker was claimed by the Los Angeles Galaxy. Again he had instant success, winning his third MLS championship in his first year with the LA side. He also received the distinction of a spot on the MLS All-Time Best XI, a team of the best players to play in the ten year history of the MLS. The Galaxy gave him a talented teammate by adding David Beckham in 2008, and though Beckham had a poor first year, Donovan set career highs for himself even as the team failed to make the playoffs.
Donovan was sent on a short loan to top German club Bayern Munich in early 2009. Then Bayern coach Jurgen Klinsmann, with strong US links, rated him highly. Donovan scored four goals in exhibition play, but couldn’t find the back of the net in six competitive games before returning again to America and the Los Angeles Galaxy. While his third visit to Germany was much more positive than the first two and despite his finding favour from manager Jurgen Klinsmann, the American striker had no real chance of wrestling a spot on the team away from the star studded combination of Miroslav Klose, Luca Toni and Lucas Podolski.
What to make of Donovan's repeated unsuccessful European escapades? That this American superstar has disappeared into the background of Europe so often suggests that the gap between America and Germany, and between the MLS and the Bundesliga, is still very large. While Donovan is still interested in playing in Europe, three attempts with limited success may discourage top clubs from taking a chance on the American. Despite being too good for the MLS, Donovan may simply not be good enough for the top tiers of professional football.
Donovan’s play with his national team has been impressive. After his first initial success in the 1999 U-17 World Championships, he earned a place on the 2000 Olympic squad, which escaped the first round for the first time in the nation’s history. He scored two goals during the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, as America both upset the talent-laden Portugal and earned a sport in the quarter-finals for the first time in 72 years.
The USA had climbed to fourth in the FIFA rankings at the time of the 2006 World Cup in Germany, though this was to the surprise of everyone including the Americans, and was seen as a flaw in FIFA’s system of ranking. As part of the Group of Death in Germany, the Americans took a short step backwards as they were eliminated at the group stage.
Donovan leads the American national squad in all-time goals (37) and assists (33) in his 106 international matches. With the recent decline of Mexico, the USA have stepped into the comfortable role of best team in CONCACAF. For this Donovan can undoubtedly take much credit.
Only time will tell if Landon Donovan gets another shot at European football, but until then he remains one of the best players in the MLS and the face of American soccer.
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